Armed police allegedly shot a man brandishing a knife on London Bridge today as five people were injured and crowds were seen running away from the scene.
People in the capital could be heard shouting ‘they’ve actually got guns out’ this afternoon as footage from the scene showed a person slumped on the ground.
The incident comes two and half years after the 2017 terrorist attack on London Bridge which saw three men kill eight people and injure 48 others.
Witnesses said there appeared to be a fight on the southern side of the bridge with several men attacking another man at about 2pm this afternoon.
People are evacuated from London Bridge in the capital this afternoon after a police incident
Police and emergency services at the scene of the incident on London Bridge this afternoon
Armed police at the scene today after witnesses reported hearing gunshots at London Bridge
A woman is carried away from the scene by police officers at London Bridge this afternoon
One video showed what appeared to be police pulling equipment out of a vehicle nearby. Those in the video could be heard saying: ‘They’ve actually got guns out.’
Onlooker Zack Shooter said police almost knocked him over as they ran towards the incident, adding: ‘Then loads of cars with sirens all rushed past me at full speed.’
Police evacuated London Bridge station and the surrounding area. A cordon was set up at Borough Market while evacuation continues from shops and businesses.
The response from officers led scores of people to run down St Thomas’ Street, though the exact cause of the incident is still unknown.
Police said they were treating the evacuation of the area surrounding Borough Market as a ‘major incident.’
Police at the scene of the incident on London Bridge in the capital this afternoon
People fleeing from Borough Market in London following a police incident this afternoon
A man who works across the road from Borough Market said he had heard reports of a man with a knife who had been shot by police.
‘A lorry crossed over into both lanes and police were shooting at it from both sides,’ he said.
‘Apparently there was an assailant with knife. They’ve taped past our office now and we can’t get in.’
One business owner said she had been crossing London Bridge to get to her shop on the north side when police officers stopped her.
She said that was when she heard at least five or six gunshots and said that her store has been evacuated.
Armed police at the scene of an incident on London Bridge in the capital this afternoon
Members of the public are held behind a police cordon near London Bridge train station today
Police at the scene on London Bridge as officers respond to reports of an incident
The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, added: ‘I was approaching London Bridge and a policeman would not let me through.
‘We heard shooting, it was about five or six shots, I heard five or six quite clearly. All my staff have been evacuated.’
The London Ambulance Service said it had crews at the scene.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘Police were called at 1.58pm to a stabbing at premises near to London Bridge. Emergency services attended, including officers from the Met and City of London Police.
‘A man has been detained by police. We believe a number of people have been injured. Further info to follow.
Members of the public are held behind a police cordon near London Bridge train station today
Police cars and vans respond to the incident on London Bridge this afternoon
Scotland Yard said officers are ‘dealing with an incident at London Bridge’ this afternoon
‘We are aware of reports circulating on social media. We will release facts when we can – our info must be accurate.’
One video posted to social media showed a man, apparently the suspect, grappling with some other men.
As he tried to get up from the floor, he then collapsed to the ground after being hit by what appeared to be gunfire.
BBC correspondent John McManus told BBC News that he had heard several gun shots on London Bridge.
‘Just a few minutes ago I was walking across London Bridge on the south bank to the north bank of the bridge,’ he said.
Armed police at the scene of an incident on London Bridge in the capital this afternoon
Vehicles over London Bridge this afternoon as police confirm they are dealing with an incident
Emergency services vehicles are pictured dealing with an incident on London Bridge today
‘There appeared to be a fight going on the other side of the bridge, with several men attacking one man.’
‘Police then quickly arrived, including armed police, and then a number of shots were fired at this man.
‘Police have now cleared the bridge, everybody has been told to move back and now on the northern side of the bridge, but there are more shots going on.
‘I can’t see what’s happening now because we’ve been moved out of the way but there are shots going on, and you probably hear the police sounds as well.
‘Everybody has cleared the area, the entire bridge has been moved, and right on the northern part of the bridge, right up until quite near the Bank of England, is being cleared.’
People running away from Borough Market in London after police tell to them to leave the area
Police at the scene of the incident on London Bridge in the capital this afternoon
Police urged anyone near the scene today to ‘follow the directions of any officer on the ground’
‘There are more police coming into the area as I’m speaking, they’re telling people to clear, to move back,’ Mr McManus continued.
‘We’ve been moved back hundreds of metres back from the northern side of the bridge, and I can only assume the same has happened on the southern side of the bridge as well.’
The BBC correspondent said he could see a man lying on the ground but the situation was ‘ongoing’.
‘There appeared to be a fight going on on the bridge, from what I could see, several people tried to restrain a man and it was then that armed police arrived and they fired shots at this person,’ he said.
‘The last I could see before we were moving from the bridge was lying on the ground.
‘Since then, since we’ve been moved back, I’ve heard several more shots fired as well. So at this moment it seems to be a developing situation.’
On the picture on London Bridge, Mr McManus said: ‘It’s a busy, sunny Friday afternoon, with lots and lots of people out on the streets.
‘Many people going into London Bridge, which is a major train station for people travelling out to the south of London and to the south coast.
‘Of course, this is the business district, the City of London, so it’s incredibly busy here but right now all the traffic has come to a complete halt, the police ticker tape has gone up, there’s police cars everywhere.
‘I can see traffic being turned around to go back where it came from, because the whole of London Bridge, has now been sealed off and those armed police are on the bridge right now.’
Kelby McNally, OK! Online’s editor, works in the Northern and Shell Building on Lower Thames Street near to London Bridge.
Police are ‘in the early stages of dealing with an incident at London Bridge’, officers said
She said: ‘I was coming out of Pret on Eastcheap and there were loads of people just running, I thought it was a fire alarm or something, and then I saw two girls from my office who told me not to go back there. I asked what had happened, and they said they had heard gunshots and now everyone is running.
‘City of London police officers and paramedics told us, ‘You need to go that way, do not go near London Bridge, run that way’.
‘Everyone was running, so then we came to where the Sky Garden building is and the security guards let everyone in. We’re sat in the foyer of this building, and everyone is running outside.
‘Now everyone is being let out of this building but they’re saying you cannot walk back towards London Bridge, go towards Liverpool Street.’
British Transport Police said London Bridge station has been closed.
The force tweeted: ‘We are aware of an incident at London Bridge and are assisting our colleagues at the Metropolitan Police.
‘London Bridge station is currently closed and trains are none stopping. Please check with the Metropolitan Police for further updates.’